Zalina : Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam

Here at The Amazing Blog, we strive to be ahead of the curve and be one of the first to reveal an exciting new beauty launch. Today, Zalina is that brand. Edwina recently judged their products at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards - it won her (and us) over with their award-winning ‘Best Zone-Targeted Beauty Product’ Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam; it’s a great little multitasker that won’t disappoint. 

As a certified health and lifestyle coach with a background in beauty, Zalina Walchi, founded her company Zalina in 2018 in order to make a positive impact on the world of health and beauty. Although her Swiss organic skincare only launched at the end of 2021. As a beauty, health and wellness brand, Zalina prides itself on having 100% organic, waterless and preservative-free products that focus on three themes: the purest natural ingredients, gentle effectiveness, and uncompromised freshness. All ingredients are sourced from sustainable, organic farms and are free from animal testing. It all began when Zalina couldn’t find affordable skincare that had the standard of quality, purity, and efficacy that she wanted to use on her own skin. Zalina said, "I'm very passionate about skincare and beauty. I am grateful to formulate products inspired by the warmth of the Caribbean, the energy of New York and the pristine purity of my surroundings here in Switzerland." What sets the brand apart is the supercritical plant extracts used to regenerate, repair, and improve skin health. They’re also about the microbiome (AKA microbiota), an ecosystem of bacteria on the skin's surface that protects against pathogens and balances skin and the immune system. The brand has excellent eco-credentials, where they only use biodegradable containers made from molten wood and bottles from renewable sugar cane materials. Zalina has also partnered with New Zealand company CarbonClick which helps fight climate change. When a product purchase is made online, there’s an option to click a green button, which adds a small contribution. This contribution purchases carbon offsets, which reduce the environmental impact of the carbon emissions generated from the purchase. All products are formulated in Switzerland under strict quality control, certification and standards and are European and Swiss certified organic, vegan, cruelty-free and Icada Clean Beauty and (soon) Ecocert. There’s also an online immersive beauty experience called the Zalina Seamless Beauty & Green Beauty Class, with education on her natural ingredients, application techniques for her products, and personal tips for your beauty routine.

The Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam is a multitasking product created for use on both the eyes and lips. Not many solo products have this dual-purpose, offering to nourish, hydrate and energise these areas of skin. It’s made up of eight 100% organic cold-pressed oils; karité, moringa, alpine rose, jojoba, wheat germ, rosehip, kukui, and chia.

Karité, (AKA shea butter), is an oil extracted from the fruit of a karite tree, with vitamins A and E, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Moringa is a non-fragrant plant oil that is full of antioxidants and vitamins. The Swiss alpine rose extract strengthens the skin's barrier function and protects skin proteins from oxidative stress and environmental damage. Jojoba is rich in fatty acids and has many skin-soothing properties. Wheatgerm softens skin and provides increased suppleness and strength. Rosehip oil is rich in antioxidants and known for its cell regeneration. Kukui is a Hawaiian plant that has emollient properties like fatty acids like linoleic acid and omega-3, which help calm and reduce skin inflammation. Chia seed oil is non-fragrant, again it’s rich in omega fatty acids and antioxidants, and shown to relieve dry skin and restore the skin's moisture barrier.

The Eye & Lip Balsam is gentle and is particularly good for the delicate skin around the eye. We should mention that it’s also very hydrating for the lips. It’s one of those great little multitaskers that needs to be close to hand on a desk or in a handbag. With its hydrating qualities, It certainly protected our lips against chapping, and when applied around the eyes, it felt soothing and worked as an excellent primer for makeup. Comprised of only eight organic oils, together these rejuvenate, protect and repair, it’s simple yet effective, which is why it’s another of our #amazingfinds. These hydrating oils give skin an all-around natural glow, lips feel smoother and softer, and around the eyes, fine lines plumped up. This is our little hero product, and the Organic Radiant Eye & Lip Balsam can be purchased for 45 Swiss Francs here.

Rossano Ferretti : 14 Velluto - Straightening Serum

As the weather begins to warm up, summer humidity beckons, and so does our dreaded hair frizz! At The Amazing Blog, we want to share our latest anti-frizz discovery with Rossano Ferretti and their 14 Velluto Straightening Serum; it’s a non-oily formula that’s helped to keep our hair texture super-smooth and glossy.

Rossano Ferretti is an Italian hair care, company founded by the hairdresser Rossano Ferretti himself in 1990 when he opened his first salon in Parma, Italy. Since opening his salon, Ferretti's goal has been to change the salon experience to a more sensory experience, with wellbeing at the forefront. Since 2008 he has been travelling globally to open new salons and developing a new concept for franchising and collaborations with some of the top hotel chains bringing his vision for the luxurious hair salon experience. A unique element of the brand is its haircutting method, which Rossano Ferretti exclusively developed with his sister. The technique is all about the hair's natural fall; it’s a customised haircut tailored to each individual and their hair type. In an interview with Vogue, Rossano Ferretti explained that the method "was a vision I had for ten years, but a technique that I developed overnight. My goal was to create a haircut without geometry, and without seeing the cut of the scissors. I just wanted to see the natural fall of the hair, so I invented the invisible haircut." Rossano Ferretti was inspired by his grandfather, a barber, and his mother and grandmother, who ran a small salon. He went to London to study hair design, enrolling at the Sasson Academy in the 1970s at just 15 years old. He said that "This particular period in my life was the incubator for my revolutionary technique, the moment where I was able to breathe life into my original vision and dream." Rossano Ferretti now has over 20 hair salons across the globe and a range of multi-award winning luxury professional haircare products, which launched in 2010. They recently won ‘Best Hair Brand ‘at the global 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards. There are now 36 products categorised within 11 collections, including ‘Dolce’ for nourishing dry hair, ‘Grandioso’ for adding volume to fine and flat hair, ‘Intenso’ for adding smoothness and hydration to ultra-thick hair and ‘Vita’ for rejuvenating thin, ageing or fragile hair. His products are made in Italy and available in his salons, select spas, and online. They cater to every type of hair issue and need with up to 99% naturally derived vegan and cruelty-free ingredients, and combine powerful natural-botanical elements with the most advanced active principles and technology. The brand has partnered with Save the Children, where they donate 5% of their net profits.

Edwina, our Executive Editor, tested out this 14 Velluto Straightening Serum as one of the judges on the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards, and we can see why it won ‘Best Hair Smoother/Strengthening Treatment’. This serum works for all hair types and is comprised of over 95% naturally derived ingredients. The product not only straightens hair by detangling, and defrizzing, but it also gives it a great shine.

Looking at the key natural ingredients, they all come with numerous benefits. The Sweet almond protein is nourishing and helps smooth, soften and protect the hair. Another notable is the avocado oil, a rich source of vitamin A, D, and E and fatty acids. Together, both these have the restructuring power to repair, and strengthen hair. Sesame seed oil is another excellent source of vitamin E and B, it’s naturally moisturising and soothes the scalp. The crambe abyssinic seed oil is rich in omegas 6,9 and triglycerides, it’s light, hydrating and adds shine. 

Other additives in the serum are sulfonic acid, used to promote hair growth. There are other surfactants, emulsifiers, and solubilising agents such as polysorbate 80. Ethylhexylglycerin is a nourishing ingredient with hydrating properties. Peg-8 Dimethicone and Isohexadecane are synthetic ingredients that are used as texture enhancers. Sodium Acrylate/Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer are thickening agents. Sodium benzoate and phenoxyethanol are preservatives used to prevent the growth of bacteria in cosmetic products. Finally, limonene, linalool and geraniol are natural aroma compounds.

What we found with this Straightening Serum, is that it protects the hair from humidity and enhances strength to reduce damage or breakage. In an interview with Prestige, Rossano Ferretti recommended it saying, "To help hair remain smooth and supple despite the humidity, I would recommend Velluto 14, a luxurious, anti-frizz serum that makes the hair exceptionally smooth and silky while controlling static and protecting from external aggressors." We used only a couple of pumps before styling and loved how it gave our hair a wonderful sleek looking sheen - taking away any flyaway hairs or frizz. It’s opaque, light and creamy in texture, and has a delicious subtle floral fragrance - that won’t conflict with another. As one of our #amazingfinds, it’s on our must-have list for the summer. If you want to avoid unwanted frizziness, then we recommend adding this straightening serum to your hair care. Purchase the 100ml Straightening Serum here for £34.

Kiss The Moon : Glow Night-time Body Cream

Are you having trouble sleeping? Then let us introduce you to Kiss The Moon, an award-winning brand known for its night-time aromatherapy products created to help us get better sleep. Sleep, or lack of it, is an issue for us at The Amazing Blog, so we were thrilled to try Kiss The Moon's Glow Night-time Body Cream, which won Best Night-time Body Cream at the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Kiss The Moon was founded by Jo Foster, inspired by her own goal to get her sleep back on track. Jo’s lack of sleep came from the international travel, and the stress she accumulated from her previous career in advertising. This is where she discovered the connection between poor sleep and poor skin and began experimenting with different oils when she could not find a simple solution to improve her troubled sleep. In an interview with Wow Beauty, she said, "My sleep suffered, and so did my skin and mood. I searched around for a solution and that's where I started understanding the link between sleep and our sense of smell." Scents can profoundly impact sleep because the sense of smell is controlled by the same part of the brain that maintains our sleep. Certain scents promote better sleep, help you wake up in the morning, and even influence your dreams. And this is when Jo began experimenting with blending essential oils, and in 2014 went on to launch her brand Kiss The Moon. As the brand grew, in 2019, she opened the first Beauty Sleep Boutique in Richmond, Yorkshire, "Our products not only help you get to sleep but also give your skin the nourishment it needs overnight as it repairs and regenerates." Kiss The Moon offers four different ranges Love, Glow, Dream, and Calm. Each collection has a unique blend of ingredients and essential oils, offering a different solution for an individual’s sleep and skin needs. They have a ‘matchmaker’ questionnaire here to help customers choose the right products. In an interview with Welltodoglobal, Jo states that she hopes Kiss The Moon will become a leading voice inputting night-time wellness on the health agenda; "We're the only company that specialises in products that are specifically designed to help improve your night-time wellness - both in terms of sleep and skin repair." They are a multi-award-winning brand, and all products are 100% natural, cruelty-free, not tested on animals, sustainable, made in the UK and Leaping Bunny approved. They also confirm that they do not sell or export their products to China or any other market which requires animal testing by law.

The Glow Night-time Body Cream is part of Kiss The Moon's Glow Range that incorporate a brightening blend of four key ingredients: bitter orange water, rose geranium, myrrh, and litsea. Together, these ingredients work to restore the skin's natural glow. The aroma from the bitter orange water lifts the spirit and encourages healthy circulation, at the same time, rose geranium is known to balance the skin's natural oil levels and offer its sweet floral scent. Myrrh is an ingredient often used to heal, and litsea oil is a citrus scent often used in Chinese medicine to help calm the mind. The Glow Night-time Body Cream helps give a better night's sleep and leaves you to wake up feeling refreshed. We love that it has lots of moisturising ingredients that leave skin feeling smooth and soft, with all the potent aromatherapy blended oils to help nourish and revive the skin. 

Some of the other natural ingredients included here are: Rosehip oil has a host of benefits high concentrations of vitamin A, B vitamins, and vitamin E it’s also known for skin regeneration and healing. Whipped shea butter for its highly moisturising, soothing and repairing properties. Mango seed butter softens the skin. Rosehip seed oil is full of antioxidants. Sunflower seed oil, a non-fragrant oil, is used for skin calming. Sea buckthorn is rich in vitamin C, B, and E. Tocopherol, another source of vitamin E. Petitgrain leaf oil is a fragrant oil that eases feelings of tension, helps calm the nervous system, and promotes restful sleep. Finally, camellia sinensis helps boost the immune system, reduce stress and relieve depression and anxiety.

Confused about whether to choose a body cream, body lotion or body butter? Body Creams are typically thicker than body lotions, both are made up of water and oils. However, the main difference between body cream and body butter is the water to oil ratio. Body butter tends to have no water, whereas body creams are emollient based which enables them to penetrate the skin quicker. As body creams go, this Glow Night-Time Body Cream is exceptional. We found it surprisingly thick, creamy, and luxurious to the touch. Presented in a recyclable solid frosted glass jar, it’s stylish, weighty and easy to repurpose. Body creams are best applied at night, so they have time to absorb and properly hydrate the skin. We applied the cream before bed to our arms and hands, to reap the full benefits of its calming scent. Apart from helping us unwind, we found it had super-hydrating properties that helped moisturise any dry patches. It’s another of our #amazingfinds and one we’d recommend adding to your night-time routine. To purchase a 200ml jar of Kiss The Moon's Glow Night-Time Body Cream at £36 see here. They also have other UK stockists that can be found here

Eloise Hall : Optimism Enriching Body Wash

With the return of finer days and summer around the corner, at The Amazing Blog, we’re featuring one of our latest bathroom #amazingfinds with Optimism Enriching Body Wash from the award-winning indie brand Eloise Hall. We love its summery zestiness, balanced with mellow notes of ylang-ylang and the warm citrus spice of coriander - all guaranteed to “refresh the body and reawaken the senses.”

Eloise Hall started her working life as a successful milliner in London. She went on to follow a childhood dream, moving to rural Somerset, surrounded by sheep, cows and an abundance of green pastures. It’s there, from the quiet sanctuary of her studio, that Eloise now crafts beautiful cards, stationery and artwork. Sustainability is at the heart of the brand, cards and envelopes are recyclable, and it’s a priority to always source materials from papermakers that use wood from responsibly managed UK forests. Due to the success of her stationery and artwork, Eloise has since ventured into producing a range of natural lifestyle and well-being products, which is where Eloise turned to the experienced perfumer Richard Howard of Arcania Apothecary. “I love creating fragrance with our master natural perfumer. He’s inspired by one of my artworks and we work closely until we create something incredible!” Together they have created core three natural fragrances ‘Contentment’ with patchouli and rose, ‘Optimism’ with grapefruit and petitgrain, and ‘Pause’ with geranium and lavender. All products are crafted in small batches, are cruelty-free, vegan and, wherever possible, 100% natural. The plastic bottles used are all made from 100% recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable, helping divert plastic from oceans and landfills. Eloise went on to say, "We have a lot of plastic in our system, so actually, the 100% recycled is using stuff that is already there… and uses less energy to make."  They are a multi-award-winning brand and recently joint winners of ‘Best Body Wash’ in 2022 The Beauty Shortlist Awards.  The brand continues to go from strength to strength and is now available in over 500 retailers worldwide. They are partnered with the Wild Life Trusts, where £1 is donated from the sale of every bottle, and the Eden Reforestation Project, with every £100 spent on wholesale orders, they plant five trees.

This refreshing and reawakening Optimism Enriching Body Wash won’t disappoint. Described as "The olfactory essence of optimism, hope and joy", it’s free from chemical and artificial ingredients and only contains natural fragrances with pure essential oils.

There are seven essentials oils, starting with grapefruit peel containing alpha-hydroxy acids, which increase the cell renewal rate, helping skin look smoother and younger. Then the ylang-ylang flower, with its sweet, calming scent and regenerative properties and high in antioxidants and sesquiterpenes (soothing properties that support the immune system). The coriander seed has an abundance of antioxidants and vitamin C and is an excellent anti-bacterial and detoxifier. The lavender flower is a mood enhancer and a potent anxiety reliever. The red mandarin peel comes from the fully ripened fruit; its circulatory qualities help to improve blood and lymph. The lemongrass leaf is a natural coolant that soothes and nourishes, relieving skin irritation or discomfort. Finally, the palmarosa leaf, high in concentration of the chemical compound geraniol valued for its scent and is also known for uplifting emotions and clearing muddled thoughts. Apart from these essential oils, there is glycerin and coconut acid to moisturise and natural-based surfactants to cleanse. Most of the surfactants are coconut-derived, and when combined with water, they produce a lather. There’s also sugar alcohol (erythritol) commonly used by soap makers to add light, bubbly suds. All of these are safe and are naturally derived.

The charming label design with its Optimism ‘life & nature’ botanical illustration is just the start of the journey… thanks to all the natural ingredients in this body wash, our skin was left soft, cleansed and uplifted. Unlike a few others we’ve tried, this didn’t leave skin feeling tight or dehydrated. It gently foams, moisturises and leaves a warm and subtle floral scent. Here’s a fun fact, according to Mumsnet, a bottle of 250ml body wash, with daily use, can last up to three months. However, for us, it’s more like a month! To purchase this 250ml Optimism Enriching Body Wash at £16, see here. Or perhaps, as a gift set, which also includes the body lotion and candle, the Optimism Body Gift set is £58, see here. As regular readers will know, we love to support British indie brands, and we can’t wait to see what Eloise Hall launches next.

Claudia Fallah : Azulene Foam Active, Calming Face Wash

Today at The Amazing Blog, we want to share one of our favourite foam cleansers - it’s always our ‘go-to’ cleanser, especially when we get any skin sensitivity; it gently cleanses, calms and soothes any irritated skin. We are talking about Claudia Fallah’s The Azulene Foam Active, Calming Face Wash which won both Best Cleanser, and Best Foam Cleanser in the 2022 Beauty Shortlist Awards.

Claudia Fallah has a strong background within the cosmetics and skincare industry; she trained as a therapist in Germany with top dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons, going on to open her first clinic in Marleybone in 1995. As a highly knowledgeable aesthetics specialist, Claudia saw firsthand how some professional skincare had harmful and damaging ingredients. In 1999, she decided to develop her exclusive skincare range for her clients. Claudia was inspired by Dr Rudolph Steiner, founder of biodynamic, and his theories; “It planted an organic seed in my mind, to create a natural and potent cosmeceutical that will address specific skin concerns gently with fast results, all without any harsh chemicals.” Biodynamics is a sustainable, organic, holistic, and ethical farming method. Crops are grown in rhythm with the powerful moon phases and ocean tides and harvested in their most potent state. Today Claudia has created a natural and organic skincare range that effectively gives her clients the results they want. All products are natural, organic, hypoallergenic, chemical-free, and made in London. Her skincare is also now widely used by dermatologists, therapists, and cosmetic surgeons. In an interview with Mayfair Silk, Claudia said, “It has been an absolute joy to revive and repair our clients’ skin, and so many have continued on their skincare treatments with us, but this time to enhance their skin health and appearance.” As an established aesthetician and skin specialist, she has a strong celebrity following and is often called one of “London’s best-kept secrets” by the press. Claudia’s mantra is, “Give me the worst skin, and I’ll deal with it.” Figures show back in 2014, sensitive skincare claims represented 25% of total skincare claims, compared to 15% in 2009, with 71% of facial skincare users saying they are interested in ultra-gentle products (Mintel). Claudia Fallah is known as one of the UK’s leading experts on sensitive skin and is an advisor for MediSpa, located in Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge.

The Azulene Foam Active, Calming Face Wash is a gentle and hydrating foaming face wash. While facial cleansers can often be harsh on the skin or even sting, this is guaranteed to soothe and leave skin feeling softer. Apart from being a hydrating product, we found the face wash reduced redness and acted as an anti-inflammatory. Perfect for all skin types and ages, we found it ideal for our sensitive skin as It decongests skin to give it a brighter and fresher look, and uses natural ingredients which soothe, protect and balance. The two key active ingredients to talk about are azulene and mango fruit (mangifera indica fruit extract).

Azulene is an organic compound dark blue in colour. It has a long history dating back to the 15th century as the azure-blue chromophore obtained by steam distillation of German chamomile. Every year the blue colour varies depending on the weather conditions, and as azulene with all its healing properties is photosensitive, Claudia uses a protective opaque bottle. Azulene is a strong antioxidant that has the ability to shield the skin from damage caused by free radicals. By neutralising free radicals, azulene helps prevent the cellular damage that causes skin discolouration from sun exposure. Although it cannot prevent the skin from ageing, azulene can help minimalise and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Most importantly for us, it helps to alleviate the redness from blemishes, allowing the complexion to clear up more quickly. It has mild antibacterial properties and is sometimes used in natural medicine as an antiseptic. Primarily it’s an ingredient that is used to help revive stressed, irritated or damaged skin due to its potent anti-inflammatory qualities. Azulene is the star ingredient here with all of its soothing and healing benefits and antimicrobial properties.

The mango extract contains superior levels of vitamins A (beta carotene) and C; mango fruit can stimulate the skin’s natural production of collagen, enhancing the elasticity of the skin and aiding in the generation of new skin cell growth and reducing inflammation and redness. Pharmacologically active flavonoid mangiferin (mango) has been increasingly explored as a possible anti-carcinogen. Studies involving mangiferin have produced results that suggest it offers anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antiviral capabilities as well as being a powerful antioxidant. The existing results suggest that mangiferin protects the skin against the damage caused by ultraviolet rays, and will also repair existing sun damage.

Other actives include bergamot helping unclog pores, aloe vera extract for further antioxidants and soothing properties, camphor to relieve skin irritation, and mandarin essential oil to help even out the skin tone.

To date, this is one of the best foaming cleansers that we’ve used. We cannot recommend it highly enough for its gentle, soothing and calming properties. It’s another of our #amazingfinds with the added bonus of effectively removing eye makeup residue - without any stinging. It’s also a natural, light and simple cleanser guaranteed to leave skin glowing and feeling refreshed. To purchase the 100ml Azulene Foam Active, Calming Face Wash for £38 see here.